A YOUNG artist is following in her famous grandfather’s footsteps by showing the same creative flare after finishing in the top 10 of the country’s students for an art exam.

Jessamy Hawke, who studies at Esher College, proved she is among the best in the UK at art when her results placed her in the nation’s top 10 for AS art out of 6,535 entrants.

Jessamy’s grandfather was the artist Eddie Askew. He was awarded an OBE for his services to charity after raising more than £2.5 million for the Leprosy Mission through his paintings and book sales.

He died last year after suffering a stroke.

Jessamy’s mother, Jenny Hawke, said: “Eddie would have been so proud of his granddaughter. It’s such a wonderful achievement.”

Esher College celebrated success with four other students finishing inside the top 10.

Final-year students Rebecca Rabin and Fei Wang came in the top five for Double Applied Leisure and Sport, and the top 10 for Applied Art and Design and Design and Technology A Level respectively.

Rebecca is going to study advertising, marketing and communication at Bourne-mouth University and Fei is now off to Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication to study graphic design.

Rosamund Lakin achieved a top 10 place with high marks in AS art and Christopher Ainscough came in the top 10 for both AS economics and AS physics, beating 7,387 students in the latter subject. Principal Keith Blackwell said: “I’m so proud of the achievements of these young people.

“It is an enormous feat to beat thousands of other applicants and be seen as the best in the country for your subject area.

“Congratulations to both the students and the staff for being so dedicated.”

Rydens School, in Her-sham, was also celebrating after Robert Dennett’s GCSE drama results placed him in the top 10 out of 60,878 candidates.

The school beat last year’s drama GCSE results, with 96% of students achieving A*—C grades this year.

Robert is now studying drama at A-level in the sixth form at Rydens School and plans to become a professional actor.

Hannah Doonan, head of drama at the school, said: “This achievement by Robert is the icing on the cake.

He has been a leading light in drama activities since he joined the school and, more recently, has taken lead roles in our school plays and musicals and was the house drama captain last year.”

Jerry Jarvis, qualifications body Edexcel’s managing director, added: “This is a tremendous achievement and testament to the hard work students put into preparing for their exams.